Candlebox with guest State to State

Candlebox rode the grunge bandwagon to multi-platinum success in the early ’90s with their own take on grunge which diluted the punk and indie elements inherent in its original form and instead incorporated the bluesy, classic-style hard rock that grunge had ostensibly replaced. Nonetheless, Candlebox unwittingly helped usher in the post-grunge era; along with Bush, they showed how the more challenging aspects of grunge could be ironed out and polished into a sound that mainstream rock radio could embrace without reservation.

Candlebox was formed in Seattle in December 1991 by singer/guitarist Kevin Martin, a native of Elgin, Illinois, who’d grown up partly in San Antonio, and drummer Scott Mercado. Initially calling the band Uncle Duke, they added lead guitarist Peter Klett and bassist Bardi Martin (no relation to Kevin) and changed the group’s name to Candlebox, after a line in a Midnight Oil song. Their demo tape found its way to Madonna’s Maverick label, which quickly resulted in a record deal in 1992. Candlebox’s self-titled debut was released in 1993, and while the first single, “Change,” began to build them a following, it wasn’t until 1994, when the follow-up, “You,” appeared, that Candlebox really started to take off. “You” gave them a breakthrough hit on mainstream rock radio, which set the stage for the success of “Far Behind,” essentially a power ballad for the grunge era. “Far Behind” was a major hit on both mainstream and alternative radio, and also made the pop Top 20; its exposure helped Candlebox climb into the Top Ten on the LP chart and eventually sell over three million copies.

Candlebox returned in 1995 with their second album, Lucy, and the lead single, “Simple Lessons,” which earned some rock radio airplay and the album itself went gold but barely missed the Top Ten. In 1997, founding member Mercado left the band and was replaced by original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen. Candlebox’s third album, Happy Pills, appeared in 1998 and marked a return to the more basic sound of their debut. “It’s Alright,” “10,000 Horses,” and the title cut all landed some radio airplay. Krusen departed in 1999, as did Bardi Martin; they were replaced by Shannon Larkin (ex-Ugly Kid Joe) and Rob Redick, respectively, but the group disbanded the following year. The original lineup of Martin, Klett, and Mercado re-formed for a handful of shows in 2006 to support the release of Rhino’s Best of Candlebox compilation. The overall positive reunion stirred rumors of a new studio album, culminating in 2008’s Into the Sun. In 2012, the band inked a deal with AudiNext/Fontana, who released their fifth studio album, Love Stories, and Other Musings. In 2015, Peter Klett and Scott Mercado announced they were leaving Candlebox to devote more time to their other project, Lotus Crush. A few months later, Kevin Martin and Dave Krusen unveiled a new edition of the band, featuring new guitarists Mike Leslie and Brian Quinn, and bassist Adam Kury. This lineup went into the studio to record a new album, and Disappearing in Airports was released in April 2016.

Since releasing their first LP, No Bounds, in 2014, State to State have established themselves in Los Angeles as flag bearers of atmospheric rock, a landscape forged by bands like Radiohead and Interpol. The band has played sold out shows at the Troubadour, as well as residencies at The Hotel Cafe and The Viper Room. July 29, 2017, found the band at the world famous Roxy Theater in Hollywood, CA with a sold-out crowd for the release of their new single, “The Shifter,” from their upcoming EP, “Clearlake Sessions.” Since its release, “The Shifter” has received national airplay from major radio stations all over the USA and climbed the charts of LA’s KROQ’s Locals Only Countdown all the way to #1.